Trajectories of children evaluated for abuse.

INTRODUCTION

Child abuse increases the risk of substance abuse and non-suicidal self-injury, but the topic of school absenteeism and number of offspring has not been studied prospectively. This study presents the first assessment of these four outcomes among children evaluated for exposure to child abuse.

METHODS

In the 2001-2007 period, the Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark, evaluated 375 children for exposure to abuse. These children were age- and gender-matched to children from population registries at a 1:6 ratio. Excluding siblings, 2,573 children were analysed. We used the Danish Education Register, the National Patient Register and the Central Civil Register to estimate outcomes and covariates. Negative binomial or Poisson models were used. Follow-up included data until 2016.

RESULTS

For children aged 10-16 years, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of substance abuse was increased for suspected abuse. The IRR of severe non-suicidal self-injury was 5.03 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 2.59-9.77) for children ≥ 7 years old. School absenteeism had an IRR of 1.30 (95% CI: 1.01-1.68) among children aged 0-3 years. The number of offspring was increased among children aged 12-16 years with suspicion of sexual abuse, IRR = 1.67 (95% CI: 1.27-2.20), and for children aged 8-11 years with suspicion of any abuse, IRR = 3.93 (95% CI: 2.14-7.22).

CONCLUSIONS

Children evaluated for exposure to child abuse differed from their peers on all measured outcomes. The health and social services should devote attention to this group and the families they form.

FUNDING: This study received financial support from the Danish Victims Fund. The execution, content and results of the materials are the sole responsibility of the authors. The analysis and viewpoints presented in relation to the materials are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council of The Danish Victims Fund.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not relevant.